, 1887-02-24
The Department Of Agriculture
Bill Passes the Senate.
The IL Ouse Passes the Fisheries
RetaliatOry Bill.
An Extensive and Terrible Earth
quake Visits Italy.
SENATE.

SIsNhAE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.--In the sem
ate ut 2 O'Clock unfinished business
was announced, being the bill to create
Il department of agriculture and la
Dor.
Mr.. Jones, Of Arkansas, made an
argument in support of the bill.
Several amendments reported by the
senate committee on agriculture TO the
house bill we're agreed to, down u one
providing for the transfer of the sig
nal service bureau TO the department
Of agriculture and labor. That led to
a discussion.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend the
amendment by limiting it to the
weather service" of the signal service
bureau.
Consideration of the agricultural de-
partment bill was interrupted, to allow
the presentation of message from
the president in relation to the Gut
ting matter in Mexico, which was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign re-
lations, and the presentation of the
conference report on the pension APP
preparation bill, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Morgans amendment was
agreed to and the section was further
amended, on motion OF Allison, by in
cluding in subordinate force second
lieutenants now in the service OF the
bureau, and by providing that com
pensation now paid to employees and
enlisted men shall continue as now.
Finally u vote was taken on the Sec
tion transferring the weather service of
the signal service bureau Gas amended)
and il was agreed to, yeas 81, nays Is.
The bill was then passed without
division and conference was asked.
The bill creates an executive depart
nlent to be known as the department
Of agriculture and labor, with secre-
tary and assistant secretary, to be
appointed by the president by and
with advice and consent Of the senate.
The secretary is to receive the same
salary as the heads Of the other execu-
tive departments, and the assistant
the same salary rs the assistant secre-
tary OF the interior department. The
bureau Of labor and weather service of
the signal service bureau are to be
transferred to the department of agri.
culture.
The senate then took up the pleuro-
pneumonia bill.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved to postpone
the bill until tomorrow and proceed to
the consideration OF the house Joint
resolution for an investigation of the
Pacific railroads. The motion was
lost. Yeas, 81; nays, 81.
Mr.. Van Wyke suggested, in view
of the importance of the matter, that
Friday next be designated for its con.
sideratiOn.
Mr.. Edmunds objected.
Mr.. Hoar gave notice that he would
tomorrow ask the senate to assign
time, probably 2 O'Clock ON Friday, for
considering the Pacific inquiry bill.
Frye made al affecting appeal to
the senate 70 take up and consider the
message from the president vetoing
the bill that would allow arrearages OF
pension TO Thomas 8. Hopkins, of the
Maine volunteers. He described the
case as u remarkably exceptional one.
There were, he said, living on farm
in Maine in 1861 two boys, one sixteen
years Of age, the other twenty. The
elder had just been married. The war
broke out. Full Of the inspiration of
patriotism, there was " controversy be-
tween them as to which should enlist.
Finally ii was decided that the younger
boy should start first. He enlisted.
In two months the elder boy enlisted,
and was killed. The younger went to
the front and remained there sixteen
months. Then he was stricken with
nervous disease and was transferred to
the invalid corps, in which
he remained till the close of
the war. He had no physical
strength to work on the farm.
he returned to Washington where he
was appointed clerk in the treasury
department. He was there six years,
was twice promoted and was offered IL
chief clerkship at $2,500 II year; but
IN the meantime, he had studied law
and had passed his examination and
he declined. He resigned his place i'm
the treasury and commenced the prac-
tice OF law in which he built up a
practice, worth from SO 900 to 81 900 a
year. He was magnificent specimen
Of man, six feet high, handsome in
person and with u well cultivated
mind. Once in while lie was stricken
with his old disease, Early in 1878, in
the streets of Washington he was
striken with it, carried home and for
nine years never had stood on his feet.
They had been nine years of awful,
fearful pain, night and day. For two
years he could not lift spoon to his
mouth. One night about two months
ago he was carried on u